Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have 'special boxes' full of keepsakes for kids Luna and Miles (Exclusive)

Chrissy Teigen is trying to soak up every bit of motherhood as her kids, Luna and Miles, navigate childhood.

The best-selling cookbook author recently hosted the Chase Ultimate Rewards Holiday Pop-Up in New York City, where she told AOL's Gibson Johns about how she's making sure that she and her husband, John Legend, hold on to keepsakes, artwork and gifts from her children's lives.

"I really love when I catch John and Luna, and she has some paint underneath her fingernails or something, and I know they were up to something, like making something for Mother’s Day or Christmas," Teigen gushed. "We have special boxes for each of the kids -- whether it was a bracelet from the hospital or whenever she makes something for me and other keepsakes in there. When I know that John spent time with her making it for me, it really is the ultimate thing."

It's just one way that the holidays have evolved for the star since she became a mother. Now, she says, she understands that it's not about the monetary value of a gift that she gets for Christmas; rather, it's the love that went into it that counts.

"I never believed my parents, because I always thought gifts were everything, but it’s so nice to get something personal from your kid," she added.

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Chrissy Teigen out and about

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Chrissy Teigen out and about

Chrissy Teigen got a head start on her holiday shopping by using rewards points at the Chase Ultimate Rewards #OneLessThing Holiday Pop-Up on Wednesday at The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel in New York City. (Credit: Michael Simon for Chase)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 19: Chrissy Teigen attends Build at Build Studio on September 19, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 19: Chrissy Teigen attends Build at Build Studio on September 19, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 19: Model Chrissy Teigen is seen leaving 'Good Mroning America' on September 19, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 30: Chrissy Teigen speaks at the Families Belong Together - Freedom For Immigrants March at Los Angeles City Hall on June 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sarah Morris/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend attend City Harvest's 35th Anniversary Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on April 24, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for City Harvest)

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 27: Model Chrissy Teigen is seen walking in Soho on March 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 27: Model Chrissy Teigen is seen walking in Soho on March 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 19: Chrissy Teigen is seen on March 19, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 01: John Legend and Chrissy Teigen hold hands when strolling in Soho at night with the Empire State Building in the background on March 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jackson Lee/Jackson Lee)

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 01: Chrissy Teigen and Luna arrive back at their apt on March 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jackson Lee/Jackson Lee)

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 28: Chrissy Teigen seen on the streets of Manhattan on February 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 27: Chrissy Teigen and Luna Legend seen on the streets of Manhattan on February 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 31: Chrissy Teigen seen on the streets of Manhattan on January 31, 2018 in New York, NY. (Photo by Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 30: Model Chrissy Teigen is seen on the streets of Manhattan on January 30, 2018 in New York, NY. (Photo by Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 29: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend seen walking baby Luna around SoHo on January 29, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Model Chrissy Teigen attends the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Chrissy Teigen (L) and John Legend arrive at the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dan MacMedan/WireImage)

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 27: Chrissy Teigen arrives at the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Granitz/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 27: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend attend the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jay-Z on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for NARAS)

PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Model Chrissy Teigen (L) and her husband, recording artist John Legend pose with their daughter Luna Simone Stephens at the 'Monster' dinner film reception presented by the RAND Luxury Escape at Grappa during the 2018 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2018 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for RAND Luxury)

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 14: Chrissy Teigen and baby Luna Legend on December 14, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 12: John Legend and wife Chrissy Teigen seen out and about in Manhattan on December 12, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Robert Kamau/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 12: John Legend, Chrissy Teigen and their daughter Luna are seen leaving their hotel on December 12, 2017 in New York, New York. (Photo by Alessio Botticelli/GC Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 29: Model Chrissy Teigen attends the Smithsonian Magazine's 2017 American Ingenuity Awards at the National Portrait Gallery on November 29, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 07: Chrissy Teigen attends GQ and Dior Homme private dinner in celebration of The 2017 GQ Men Of The Year Party at Chateau Marmont on December 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for GQ)

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 19: Singer John Legend and wife model Chrissy Teigen attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on November 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 03: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend attends the Miu Miu aftershow party as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 at Boum Boum on October 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor Boyko/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend seen leaving an office building with their daughter Luna on September 13, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Neil Mockford/GC Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Chrissy Teigen with her daughter Luna, seen leaving their hotel to head to John Legend's gig at The O2 Arena on September 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Neil Mockford/GC Images)

NEWPORT, RI - JULY 22: John Legend and Chrissy Teigen look on during the Tennis Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at the International Tennis Hall of Fame on July 22, 2017 in Newport, Rhode Island. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images for the International Tennis Hall of Fame)

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 11: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend attend the 71st Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/WireImage)

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 11: Chrissy Teigen shoots photos in the press room during the 2017 Tony Awards at 3 West Club on June 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 6: Robinson Cano #22 of the Seattle Mariners offers up a ball after Chrissy Teigen, second from left, John Legend, far right, and daughter Luna Stephens threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Minnesota Twins and the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 6, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 01: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend attend 'Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garï¿½ns:Art of the In-Between' Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jackson Lee/FilmMagic)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are seen walking in Soho on April 26, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds attend the 2017 TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Chrissy Teigen attends the City Harvest's 23rd Annual Evening Of Practical Magic at Cipriani 42nd Street on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for City Harvest)

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Chrissy Teigen is seen on March 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Pressphotodirect/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 02: Model Chrissy Teigen arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere of 'Beauty and the Beast' at El Capitan Theatre on March 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Indeed, in the Teigen-Stephens household (Legend's true surname), the holidays are all about the kids these days. It's a decision that the couple made in consideration of the fact that both of their birthdays fall within a month of Christmas (Teigen turned 33 on November 30, while Legend turns 40 on December 28), and they like to make their birthdays about special for whoever's birthday it is.

"We’ve gotten to the point where Christmas is for the kids and the fantasy of Santa and the tree and the lights," Teigen told AOL. "They’re so excitable at this age, and it’s fun to see the joy in their eyes. We keep birthday and anniversary for us, but holidays for us are all about the kids."

Teigen also confessed that she much prefers giving gifts than receiving them -- "selfishly, because I love seeing people’s faces when they open them!" -- and she has a lot of people to give presents to at Christmas: Though her own family is small, Legend's side is much larger, and they also both have big teams that work for them.

"When I say I have a lot of people to shop for, I mean that I might have, like, 120 people to shop for," she said with a laugh. "We have these incredible teams that work for us, and you’re just so grateful for them and you want something nice for them, so you want them to enjoy what they get."

In an effort to make the task of giving over 100 gifts a little less stressful -- and expensive -- the self-described "points junkie" has turned to Chase Ultimate Rewards, where she can use points to nab presents and gift cards for the people she loves.

"I love getting stuff out of nothing," she explained.

And, yes, sometimes that means something for herself, too. Whenever she lets herself splurge on a nice gift, Teigen rationalizes it by reminding herself that Luna can just inherit it one day.

"Whenever I buy something really nice I’m like, 'I’m going to give Luna this when I die!'" she said. "Hopefully she doesn't just, like, put it on Craigslist later."

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Luna Legend, daughter of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen

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Luna Legend, daughter of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen

first week of school 😩 they had us make a little family photo album she can look at when she’s sad or upset. she loves it. my heart ksosksodododosksidojsjskodmskzh

my girl

“Should I post the one where his head looks unsupported but my face looks good and Luna is over it, the one where his head is supported but my face is just okay and Luna is over it, or him crying and my face looks okay and luna is over it?”

👛

Luna and daddy

“an outrageous girl can’t settle for a plain old hat” - Marilyn Monroe probably at some point

🧡

📷 @bumper3077

Making cornflake marshmallow and fruity pebble crunch cookies for @monicarosestyle and @traceycunningham1! From the genius that is @christinatosi and the @milkbarstore cookbook!

*meryl streep voice* “Go.”

Look at these twin humans https://t.co/TX5xto0Gh2

Oh you cheeky face with my same squinty eye!!

❤️

Last day of cookbook shooting!! ❤️❤️❤️ to @aubriepick @monicarosestyle @1maryphillips @laurapolko @patrickta @jenatkinhair @adeenasussman @fannyfoodstyle ahhhhh so many more people

Happy first birthday Lu!!!! My lovebug. You are all the best parts of the both of us and I cannot believe how much has happened in you first 12 months of life. We love you to the luna and back. Thank you @Yopeteryang for taking these awesome photos and the lip sync battle team for such a nice surprise!!! ❤️❤️❤️